The first meeting in New York of a new international Contact Group on Somalia has given strong backing to the transitional government there.

The government, set up with UN backing two years ago, has been unable to enter the capital Mogadishu, now controlled by an Islamist militia.

After its first meeting, the group said it supported Somalia's institutions.

It also called for urgent aid to Somalia and said it intended to address international concerns over terrorism.

The UK, US, Norway, Sweden, Italy, Tanzania and representatives from the European Union took part in the talks at Norway's UN mission in New York.

It is a totally forgotten and neglected crisis

Jan Egeland,UN emergency relief coordinator

Analysts say the new Contact Group is a effort to redraw policies towards Somalia in the wake of the Islamic militia's success.

The militia has seized much of southern Somalia, including Mogadishu, from warlords believed to be US-backed.

'Step forward'

The UN and African Union were invited to the talks as observers but the Arab League and Kenya were unhappy at being excluded.

Kenya has played a crucial role in long-running Somali peace talks, which led to the formation of the fragile interim government in the town of Baidoa - based there because the capital, Mogadishu is too dangerous.